Earlwood Wanderers FC

Earlwood Wanderers FC are Sydney FC’s Local Club of the Week and have won a $500 grant from St. George Bank after club secretary Jim Tatsis’ entered the team in the “Local Club of the Week” competition.

Earlwood Wanderers FC are Sydney FC-s Local Club of the Week and have won a $500 grant from St. George Bank after club secretary Jim Tatsis- entered the team in the “Local Club of the Week” competition.

Run entirely by volunteers and playing their games out of home ground Earlwood Oval, Tatsis said the club-s facilities were like any other teams- and that it was the community input that makes Earlwood Wanderers FC so unique.

“The facilities themselves I wouldn-t say separate us in any way from any other clubs,” Tatsis said.

“We are fundamentally like most other clubs but what I do find unique is that most people come up to you in the street to give you ideas about what could be done better.

“There isn-t this view that people pay all this money at the start of the year for registration and then that-s it; there is this real sense of investment from the members to continue to express themselves to the executive committee.

“I think it-s the people-s connection and involvement with the club, that differentiates it more than just the facilities.”

Perhaps the most defining aspect of the club is its recently established “Little Wanderers” program that was launched earlier this year.

The program is designed for boys and girls aged between two and five years and is aimed at introducing them to the early principles of football along with increasing their social and physical development.

It was this program that Tatsis hopes to put some of the $500 grant money towards.

“We-re a club that relies on sponsors primarily and the little that we get from registration,” Tatsis said.

“Anything is well received in terms of helping us maintain and update our club facilities so it-s great. This will go a long way for helping the club.

“I don-t want to say too much before speaking to the committee but I-d like to possibly put some of the money towards the ‘Little Wanderers program.- I-d like to see some reinvestment into that program.”

Earlwood Wanderers FC will receive their grant from Sydney FC players and Happy the Dragon, from St. George, in early June.

“It-s very generous of Sydney FC and St. George to offer such a grant,” Tatsis said.

“It-s fantastic and I think the Sydney Juniors program [Junior Blues Membership] is great. The grant itself is fantastic.

“Earlwood is really supportive of what Sydney FC does for the local grassroots clubs and I hope they keep it up.”

9 WEEKS TO GO! - There's still plenty of time to be Sydney FC's Local Club of the Week. Click here to find out more and enter for your chance to win a $500 grant from St. George Bank.